Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk, two of the most influential figures in the technology sector, have called for a significant expansion of artificial intelligence (AI) data centers during a recent G20 meeting of technology ministers. The virtual meeting, held in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, was organized by the White House to discuss the impact of AI and the importance of fostering innovation while minimizing government regulation.

Zuckerberg, the CEO of Meta, highlighted the immense demand for data centers, stating that their construction could create "hundreds of thousands and maybe millions of jobs" in skilled trades. He expressed concern over the current shortage of skilled workers needed to build these facilities, noting, "What we’ve basically found at Meta is that we… can’t find the skilled tradespeople that we need to build the data centers… that we as one company are trying to build."

Musk, the head of Tesla and SpaceX, echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the critical need for electricity to power the expanding network of AI data centers. He warned of an impending "crisis of power" that could hinder the United States' progress in AI development, potentially giving China a competitive edge. Musk stated, "There will be a significant power shortfall next year, not (the) distant future," indicating that his companies are already working on building the necessary power generation infrastructure to support their data centers.

The discussions at the G20 meeting come at a time when public sentiment in the U.S. is shifting against the construction of new AI data centers. Concerns regarding rising electricity bills and the noise generated by these facilities have led to a growing backlash, with polls indicating that a majority of Americans oppose their development. This has become a contentious issue as the country approaches midterm elections later this year.

In a separate address, Demis Hassabis, chief of Google DeepMind, spoke about the revolutionary potential of achieving human-level AI, suggesting it could have a tenfold impact on the economy compared to the Industrial Revolution. He stressed the importance of seizing this opportunity responsibly.

The meeting was part of a series of ministerial gatherings leading up to the G20 leaders' summit scheduled for December 14-15, hosted by U.S. President Donald Trump at his Trump National Doral resort in Miami. The meeting was organized by Michael Kratsios, Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.

Musk also took the opportunity to criticize European governments for what he perceives as excessive regulation that stifles technological innovation. He argued that innovation should be "relatively free of regulation," stating, "In the EU… things are generally default illegal," which he believes slows down progress in the tech sector.

As the discussions continue, the focus remains on balancing the rapid advancement of AI technologies with the necessary infrastructure and regulatory frameworks to support their growth effectively.